Capture Of Tantive IV - TAC - Battle Packs

Princess Leia's antiquated Tantive IV saw much action during her early involvement with the Rebel Alliance, as she often bypassed Imperial blockades on "mercy missions" that were as often as not Rebel supply runs. When the plans for the Death Star were transmitted to the ship, however, Darth Vader did not hesitate to run it down and capture it, along with Leia.

When the 30 (77-07) was announced, Hasbro had a lot of ideas up their sleeves for the Battle Packs line. With sets ranging from the very first Star Wars film to the last, they offered collectors new and interesting takes on previously made action figures as well as some never-before-released characters. And then there were some Star Wars figures whose characters have seen plastic in some sort of different way at some point in the line, but then Hasbro went all out and upgraded (to the best of their ability) “newer” versions of them. And this can best describe the Capture Of Tantive IVBattle Packs set. Interestingly, it started off the 30 (77-07) line as the first set available at retail. It’s important to note that the set does by no way include the best action figures available to collectors, but Hasbro used their head to refresh a few things and certainly make this a worthy purchase. The contents include two Rebel Troopers, two Stormtroopers and Darth Vader. The Stormtroopers are the pleasant surprise here, but the other figures may just take up unnecessary space in your collection. But this will depend upon your point of view. Showing up on early product lists as "Jundland Wastelands" for strange reasons unknown, the Capture Of Tantive IV Battle Packs surely has something for everyone.

Hasbro reached far into the depths of their figure archive and reissued the 1999 POTF2 [FB/CT] Darth Vader figure. Just like the 1999 figure, Darth Vader also comes with the Interrogation Droid IT-O. Early photographs of this set showed Darth Vader with a lightsaber, but he never came with one in the package. The 1999 Darth Vader figure certainly isn’t the best one out there, but there is something likable about it and it looks great in the set. It has a lovely soft-goods cape with a wonderful drape and while we don’t understand the inclusion of the Interrogator Droid here, we suppose it’s nice to get it a a “free'” accessory. The Stormtroopers in our own estimation are the best versions right now for the modern update to the vintage figure. Hasbro repainted the Evolutions Sandtrooper and made them clean white to match a regular Stormtrooper. The only problem is that since these are “repainted Sandtroopers,” they have the holes in their backs to attach their backpacks. But the figures have awesome articulation and we don’t think that Hasbro has yet made a better Stormtrooper helmet than what is on this figure.

Then we come to the Rebel Troopers. They are bittersweet. Hasbro created two new head sculpts (unique) and placed them on the old 2001 POTJ Rebel Trooper (Tantive IV Defender) figure. And then they went a step further and included removable helmets that came from 2004's SW Captain Antilles (Tantive IV Invasion) ('04 #15) figure. The extra feature of a removable helmet is incredible, but the antiquated articulation on the figure bogs the quality of this figure down a lot. And we can barely pose them naturally in the kneeling stance as they don’t stand up for us nicely in this pose. Due to their placement in the packaging, the legs are a little bent and it’s hard to pose them even standing upright. And the severe lack of articulation in the arms prevents any useful movement for posing the figure as you desire. But again, until Hasbro makes a super-articulated Rebel Fleet Trooper, this is the best we have for now. Based on the $19.99 retail price, these figures average $4.00 each which is a steal when basic figures are between seven and eight dollars. Does this Battle Packs set contain all definitive figures? Absolutely not, but this doesn’t mean that it’s not an interesting set. It’s a cool Battle Packs set, but it just isn’t as contemporary as it needs to be.

Collector Notes

Capture Of Tantive IV

Rebel Trooper [A]

Though inexperienced in combat against trained and determined fighters like the Imperial stormtroopers that swarmed onto their ship, these troopers were utterly loyal to Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance. They fought to the last man in defense of their ship.

Status: Rebel Trooper [A] is a kit-bashed figure that utilizes the body of 2001's POTJ Rebel Trooper (Tantive IV Defender) figure with an all-new head sculpt with a removable helmet. It's head sculpt is unique from Rebel Trooper [B].

Stormtrooper [A]

Unfailingly loyal to the Emperor, and without concern for their own life or safety, stormtroopers went about the messy business of capturing enemy ships with grim dedication. They flooded through narrow corridors filled with enemy fire, overwhelming defenders with sheer numbers.

Status: Stormtrooper [A] is a repaint of the figure from 2005's ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets. This time the extra accessories aren't included.

Darth Vader

The sinister Dark Lord of the Sith was the fearsome face of the Empire's effort to destroy the Rebel Alliance. He would stop at nothing to recover the stolen Death Star plans, including inflicting the cruel depredations of the IT-O interrogation droid on his prisoners.

Stormtrooper [B]

Unfailingly loyal to the Emperor, and without concern for their own life or safety, stormtroopers went about the messy business of capturing enemy ships with grim dedication. They flooded through narrow corridors filled with enemy fire, overwhelming defenders with sheer numbers.

Status: Stormtrooper [B] is a repaint of the figure from 2005's ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets. This time the extra accessories aren't included.

Rebel Trooper [B]

Though inexperienced in combat against trained and determined fighters like the Imperial stormtroopers that swarmed onto their ship, these troopers were utterly loyal to Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance. They fought to the last man in defense of their ship.

Status: Rebel Trooper [B] is a kit-bashed figure that utilizes the body of 2001's POTJ Rebel Trooper (Tantive IV Defender) figure with an all-new head sculpt with a removable helmet. It's head sculpt is unique from Rebel Trooper [A].